Fusing core and drive collar assembly

Abstract

A system for stabilizing a fuser core in an imaging device. The system includes a fuser core having a body and two opposing ends, and a pair of hubs. The opposing ends of the fuser core are configured with ratchet type geometric profiles that mate with ratchet type geometric profiles configured on the corresponding hubs. The system also includes two elastomeric collars each of which is at least partially disposed between the end of the fuser core and the corresponding mating hub.

1. A system for stabilizing a fuser core in an imaging device comprising:
 a fuser core having a body defined by an outside diameter, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is formed by a first cavity having a first ratchet type geometric profile about the surface of the first cavity, and wherein the second end is formed by a second cavity having a second ratchet type geometric profile about the surface of the second cavity; 
 a first hub having an end defined by an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes a ratchet type geometric profile configured to mate with the first cavity, wherein the exterior surface of the first hub is at least partially disposed inside the first end; and 
 a second hub having an end defined by an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes a ratchet type geometric profile configured to mate with the second cavity; wherein the exterior surface of the second hub is at least partially disposed inside the second end, wherein the first ratchet type geometric profile is comprised by at least two opposite circular arcs, the arcs oriented 180 degrees apart, whereas a circle is defined as a subset of an ellipse, and the arcs are defined by a curve which is a portion of a circle whereby the center of the circle is offset from a minor diameter circle, and each opposing arc is a portion of a circle whereby the center of the circle is offset and equal but opposite distance along a straight line from the center of the minor circle, wherein the distance from the center of the minor circle defines a height or depth of the arc, depending upon if the arcs are inscribed on an exterior or interior surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet type geometric profile is comprised by at least three circular arcs, wherein the corresponding opposing curves are offset, in degrees, around a minor circle, by divisive integral multiples, generated by 360 degrees divided by the number of arcs to be used. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second hub each has a body defined by an outside diameter, wherein the outside diameter of the body is the same as the outside diameter of the fuser core. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first elastomeric collar having a first inside diameter; and 
 a second elastomeric collar having a second inside diameter, wherein the first inside diameter is at least partially disposed over the exterior surface of the first hub, and wherein the second inside diameter is at least partially disposed over the exterior surface of the second hub. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second collars are fabricated from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, polymer alloys, blends or hybrid materials capable of continuous operation at temperatures tip to 482.degree. F. (250.degree. C.). 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a hardness of the elastomeric material is between 30 and 95 Shore A. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first collar is molded onto the first hub and the second collar is molded onto the second hub. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first collar is secured to the first hub using a chemical primer and the second collar is secured to the second hub using a chemical primer.